Michael Christian Festing

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Michael Christian Festing (born November 29, 1705 in London ; † July 24, 1752 ibid) was an English violinist and composer of the late Baroque era.

Life

Inside the rotonde of Ranelagh Gardens, painting by Canaletto 1754

Michael Christian Festing received lessons from Richard Jones and later from Francesco Geminiani . His first well-known public appearance took place in 1732 in “Hickford's Rooms”, a popular concert hall in London. Festing's permanent positions included that of a violinist at the King's Theater , and that of Master of the King's Music, a position he took over from James Moore. He may have been head of the “Italian opera house” for a while , and from 1742 he was head of “ Ranelagh Gardens ” , a paid amusement garden in London. In 1738 he was a founding member of a foundation in favor of impoverished musicians, the " Fund for the Support of Decay'y Musicians and Their Families ", which was joined by numerous important musicians of the time. Thomas Arne was one of his most famous students . Festing had four children, his son, the pastor Michael Festing (* 1725), was married to the daughter Catherine of his friend Maurice Greene .

Works

Thanks to financial support from wealthy sponsors, Festing was able to publish numerous works.

  • Op. 1:12 sonatas for violin and B. c. (London, 1730)
  • Op. 2: 12 Sonata's in three parts for different line-ups (London, 1731)
  • Op. 3: 12 Concerto's in seven Parts (London, 1734)
  • Op. 4: 8 Solo's for a Violin and a thorough-Bass (London, 1736)
  • Op. 5: 8 Concerto's in seven Parts (London)
  • Op. 6: 6 Sonata's for two violins and a bass n (London, 1742)
  • Op. 7: 6 Solo's for a Violin and a thorough-Bass (London, 1744)
  • Op. 8: 6 sonatas for violin and B. c. (London, around 1750)
  • Op. 9: 6 Concertos in seven Parts (London, 1756)
  • Airs for recorder
  • Minuetts with their Basses for Her Majesty Queen Caroline's Birthday for flute, harpsichord and B. c. (1733, 1734 and 1735 respectively)
  • Numerous cantatas with orchestral accompaniment

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Festing, Michael Christian
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English violinist and composer
DATE OF BIRTH November 29, 1705
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH July 24, 1752
Place of death London